Gov. Malloy & Lt. Gov. Wyman
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 1/9/12
Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy wants the new legislative session that opens in February to focus on education reform in Connecticut. Last week, Malloy and others helped get the ball rolling on this weighty topic in a series of press conferences and workshops.
For now, all involved are playing nice because it would be impolitic to claim you don’t think some level of reform is needed in a state that has battled for decades with a depressing “gap” in the achievement levels of kids from rich and poor towns, and a state that has failed to win several competitive rounds for federal “Race To The Top” funding.
However, at some point, various interests in the political and education sectors will collide. For some, the reasons may by philosophical but the conflict likely will turn on a paramount concern: money.
Whenever a politician or an interest group proposes something new at the State Capitol, the question always will be: where will you get the money to pay for it? Education reform cannot dodge that inquiry.
Malloy has informed legislative leaders he wants the education reform push to focus on a half-dozen elements: early childhood education, strong intervention to help poorly-performing schools, expanding high-quality school models, removing red tape that inhibits innovative projects, insuring teacher effectiveness, and targeting more resources to school districts with the greatest need.
At an education workshop his office organized last week, Malloy told attendees “this is our moment” to guarantee higher standards in the schools, so kids receive the education they need to succeed and can reach their full potential. Afterward in a Q&A with reporters, Malloy conceded the more sobering reality—such lofty goals will cost more money.
“To make some of the progress we need to make, some additional monies are going to have to be expended,” said the Governor. “Districts and/or the state are going to have to spend some money.” He did not elaborate on where the extra funding will come from or exactly where it will be going.
Some lawmakers believe the big money issue, changes in the so-called ECS formula (education cost-sharing) for doling state school aid to cities and towns may have to wait until 2013. Why? This year is an election year, so engaging in a town vs. town battle over state school aid may be too dangerous for lawmakers seeking reelection.
Some observers may be ready to identify the “haves and have nots” in the list of Connecticut’s 169 towns—but local officials never will agree to such assessments. Even supposedly well-to-do suburbs will maintain they have trouble funding local education, and any drastic changes that siphon off state funding would cause disaster.
Lawmakers who represent the “haves and have nots” will be expected to fight for their towns and failing to engage in that struggle will be done at their political peril.
Even if you look away from the funding controversy, other issues could make education reform a tough challenge in an election year legislative session that is just three months long. The legislature approved tax hikes and a two-year budget in 2011, but if the economy takes a negative dip, lawmakers could once again find them preoccupied with deficit problems. Attention also must be paid to reforms in utility regulation after the damages and power outages that outraged the public (i.e. voters) in Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm.
Also, part of the education reform push will be—in blunt terms—finding a way to get rid of bad teachers. In a letter to legislative leaders, Malloy tried to be graceful saying he wants to “ensure that our schools are home to the very best teachers and principals—working within a fair system that values their skill and effectiveness over seniority and tenure.”
The Connecticut Education Association (CEA), the state’s largest teacher union has decided, at least for now, not to voice outright opposition to reform on this touchy issue. Instead, CEA issued its own report advocating changes that will be fair to all.
CEA Executive Director Mary Loftus Levine said the union supports a “streamlined dismissal process to remove underperforming teachers” but one that would “allow for due process.” She said CEA wants a uniform teacher evaluation process, on an annual basis, insuring that such evaluations would not be “all about test scores”, but would include a teacher’s skills in planning, organizing, relationship-building, classroom management skills, and professional learning.
It will be interesting to see how lawmakers normal election year reluctance to get involved in anything controversial will match up against a Governor who has his mind set on change. Malloy said he wants reforms that will “make Connecticut a leader in narrowing the achievement gap” and comprehensive enough to put the state on the road to become “a model for creating academic excellence for all.” The Governor concluded: “We should not and will not accept half-measures and repackaged versions of the status quo.”
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